Carolina Churches Cope with Hurricane

September 17, 2018·3 min read

Hurricane Florence made landfall in Wrightsville Beach, N.C., on Friday and it continues to drop a massive amount of rain in the Eastern United States. Millions of people and thousands of churches have been affected.

We encourage church leaders to share news about their churches and how they are coping with the effects of the hurricane. Most importantly, please share how Christian churches and churches of Christ across the county can help.

Comment below or send the information to **@********************ia.com.

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Two Rivers Church of Christ in New Bern, N.C., offers folks a way to contribute to hurricane relief online. The city of New Bern received extensive coverage during the storm because of storm surge, overflowing rivers, extensive rainfall, and residents in need of rescue.

UPDATED PARAGRAPH/TUESDAY MORNING: The church asked people with the ability to donate to drop off these items at the church on Tuesday between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.: water; canned food with pull tops; cleaning supplies, clean, light blankets; clean towels and wash clothes; pillows; and hygiene products.

As of late Saturday morning, the church indicated via Facebook post that the church building was fine. The church was collecting items for area shelters but put the collection on hold Saturday night.

The church said via Facebook late Sunday afternoon that it has received help from Brothers First Motorcycle Ministry; Athens Chapel Church of Christ, Bath, N.C.; Open Door Church, Winterville, N.C.; and Gold Point Church of Christ, Roberson, N.C. “A big thank you to everyone who contributed. We will hold all further collection for now and will update you here as soon as additional needs arise.”

The church held a single service (instead of the normal three services) on Sunday, but streamed that service online.

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International Disaster Emergency Service reached out to churches in the Carolinas in advance of the hurricane’s arrival, according to the organization’s website. IDES is an Indiana-based Christian church/church of Christ organization that has been helping in situations like this since the early 1970s.

“We have a staging site identified at a church in New Bern which already has sheds stored in their warehouse ready for distribution,” IDES website says. “Shower trailers are being scheduled for delivery. We are ready to send supplies and funds.”

When Hurricane Harvey struck Texas a year ago, IDES sent truckloads of storage sheds that were used for storing personal belongings while homes were cleaned up and restored, Jett said. IDES also sent disaster care and recovery kits to the area.

Executive director Rick Jett said IDES works directly with and provides funds directly to churches. Jett said IDES “comes alongside the local church wherever they are helping.”

Click here to make a donation to IDES.

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Mid-Atlantic Christian University, Elizabeth City, N.C., reopened dorms on Sunday and classes resume today (Monday). Elizabeth City is about 170 miles north of where Hurricane Florence made landfall.

The university cancelled classes for most of last week and dormitories were vacated last Wednesday morning.

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Lifepoint Church, Raleigh, N.C., cancelled church and all activities at its three sites on Sunday.

Also cancelling services Sunday were Connect Christian Church, Concord, N.C.

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Johnny Pressley, senior minister of First Church of Christ in the eastern North Carolina city of Washington, reported his church and “most of our church families fared well.”

“The hurricane shifted a bit south before it hit us. Of course, a break for us meant trouble for someone south of us.” Washington is 100 miles north of where Hurricane Florence made landfall on Friday.

The church offered one big service instead of three on Sunday; more than 300 attended, some from area churches that had closed. Storm surge caused some flooding along the Pamlico River, he reported via Facebook.

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